The Quiksilver World Grommet Titles Move To Australia

Thirteen nations will be competing in the 12th annual Quiksilver WorldGrommet Titles, which have been relocated from Bali to Sydney’s NorthernBeaches due to social unrest in Indonesia.

The titles, sanctioned by the International Surfing Association (ISA), willbe mobile and held in the best available surf between North Narrabeen andPalm Beaches from this Monday 23 July until Sunday 29 July.

Junior surfers from the 13 nations will be vying for the four world grommettitles on offer – the Under 18s Boys, Under 19 Girls, Under 16s Boys and theTeams Title. Australian junior sides have dominated their internationalrivals since the inaugural tournament to remain undefeated in the overallteams results.

This year’s Australian team will once again be entering as favorites with anelite group of the nation’s rising stars featured in the lineup but theywill still face tough opposition from their strongest rivals New Zealand andSouth Africa. Other nations who will be represented in the InternationalSurfing Association (ISA)-sanctioned event are USA, France, Tahiti, Japan,Tonga, Austria, Great Britain, Puerto Rico, French Caribbean and Peru.

Peru1s Sofia Mulanovich has emerged as a favourite for the Under 19 Girlsbut she will face strong opposition from Avalon local Chelsea Georgeson, whowas runner-up last year.

“The waves should be better here than Bali was last year, so that’s good,but the local advantage could go either way,” said Georgeson. “I’m reallygoing to give it my best shot.”

Dylan Graves, 15, from Puerto Rico, will be competing in the Under 16 Boysdivision. Dylan has just returned from a trip on the Quiksilver Crossingwith six-time world champion Kelly Slater and two-time world champion TomCarroll.

“It’s been my dream for awhile,” Dylan said of the trip on board the IndiesTrader. “I’m sure it1s anyone1s dream it1s amazing to see all these guys,after watching them in surf videos, to see them in real life. It1s notintimidating, it1s inspiring. It makes me want to go out there and try topush it harder.”

The Quiksilver World Grommet Titles will be mobile from North Narrabeen toPalm Beach on Sydney’s Northern Beaches to enable the event to be held inthe best possible waves. After checking the surf conditions, the contestdirector will make a call each morning as to where the event will be held.

The Quiksilver Encouragement Award will be presented to the male and femalesurfers whose performance and sportsmanship rises above the rest throughoutthe event and does the most to distinguish the sport of surfing.